Brutality Read Online Free PDF Page B

of green lettuce peeking out. The tomato slice was the color of salmon, but this was January in New England. One couldn’t expect miracles.
    Bobbi’s complexion looked sallow, and her hair was flat.
    “I’m sure everyone’s telling you to eat,” Fina said, sitting down across from her with a diet soda, “but it really is important.”
    “And I really am trying, but everything tastes like cardboard to me.”
    “That’s not surprising. How’s Liz?” Fina popped open the can and took a long drag of soda.
    Tears welled in Bobbi’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “She’s not good.”
    “Bobbi, I’m so sorry.” Fina reached out and squeezed her hand.
    “They aren’t going to operate. The doctors think the hematoma is too big and surgery won’t help.”
    Fina was silent. It sounded pretty hopeless.
    “You know what they told me?” Bobbi asked. “That if Liz had been found sooner, she might have had a better chance at survival. They figure she was on the kitchen floor for an hour or so before Jamie came home, maybe in and out of consciousness.”
    “That’s awful.”
    “If you get to the ER right away, they can drill a hole or take off part of your skull and relieve the pressure.” She shook her head. “I can’t stand to think about it.”
    “There’s nothing I can say that won’t sound trite, but I am truly sorry you and your family are suffering.”
    “Well, thank you.” Bobbi took the top off her sandwich and used a fork to pick off some turkey. She put it in her mouth and chewed slowly, then washed it down with some soda. “I realize you only started Saturday, but do you have any news?”
    Fina smiled. “Are you kidding? Some of my clients expect the case to be solved in twenty-four hours. A request for an update is perfectly reasonable. I’ve spoken with Detective Menendez and let him know I’m on the case. Obviously, we’ll share information whenever possible.”
    Bobbi nodded.
    “And I met with Thatcher Kinney this morning,” Fina said.
    “Did he have any ideas about who might have done this?”
    “No, not really.” He didn’t really have any ideas at all, but Fina didn’t want Bobbi to ruminate about Liz’s choice of attorney. “He gave me some background materials, but it didn’t sound to me like the lawsuit—potential lawsuit—had gotten very far.”
    “So how can I help?” Bobbi asked.
    “I need some background about your family and any information you can give me about Liz’s friends, contacts, that sort of thing.” Fina pulled her notebook out of her bag. “I don’t want you to feel you’re being cross-examined, but sometimes, when you’re tired, it’s easier to answer questions than provide general information.”
    “Ask me whatever you’d like,” Bobbi said, pulling off another scrap of turkey.
    “Does Liz have any siblings?”
    “Yes. My other daughters are Nicole and Dawn.”
    “Do they live in the area?” Fina asked.
    “Nicole’s in Hartford, and Dawn is in western Massachusetts.”
    “Is Liz close to her sisters?”
    “More Nicole than Dawn. Liz and Dawn have always been extremely competitive.”
    Fina sipped her drink. “Did Dawn play soccer as well?”
    “Yes, for UMass.”
    Bobbi had bigger problems right now, but Fina imagined she must have contemplated the possibility of MCI devastating her other daughter’s health. Whoever said the good Lord didn’t give you more than you could handle was full of beans.
    “Who knew about the potential lawsuit?” Fina asked.
    “Our family and at least one friend that I know of, Tasha Beemis-Jones.”
    The name was familiar, but Fina couldn’t place it. Her attempt to thumb through her mental Rolodex must have been evident, because Bobbi filled in the blank.
    “She’s an attorney, and her husband is a surgeon. Their picture is on the society page of the paper sometimes.”
    Fina’s brain clicked in recognition. “Oh, right. I think she works for Sims and Lancaster?”
    “I guess. Is that a